Towing Firm Will Erect Wall

November 5, 2003|By Lori Sykes Staff Writer

Hallandale Beach — The towing company the city contracts with is building a $35,000 wall to shield stored cars from view.

When the company was awarded the city contract in March, the owners were given six months to build the concrete wall around the lot where cars are stored. The company was also required to asphalt the parking lot and line the parking spots.

A AAA, at 221 NW First Ave., completed the parking lot work before taking over the contract in April, but the company is past the Oct. 1 deadline for completing the wall. Christy Dominquez, acting director of the city's development services department, said the towing company was asked to build the wall because the city requires that outdoor storage areas be screened.

Nicole Kessler, secretary of A AAA, said construction began late because two permit applications were rejected. Documentation shows that A AAA filed permit applications in June and August, but both needed corrections. "We got an extension on the deadline, and finally got the permit on Oct. 3," Kessler said. "Right now we are relocating the cars on the lot so we can take down the fence to make way for the wall."

Work on the wall is set to begin soon and should be completed in about a month, she said. The city also required A AAA to plant landscaping in the area.

"We have to put six live oak trees off the back of the property, on Northwest Second Avenue," Kessler said. "And we are supposed to put shrubs around the entire wall."

City officials said one reason they chose A AAA was because the business had recently opened an office in the city. The company beat bids from other companies, including Anchor Towing, Tobin's Towing and HTS Towing & Recovery.